Spring hoisting device



March 17, 1931. I T, A CRElGl-{TQN 1,796,981

SPRING HOISTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1930 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 THOMAS- A. GREIGHTON, OF LONG BEACH,v CALIFORNIA SPRING HOISTING DEVICE Application filed March1 8,

The invention relates generally to' well drilling-equipment, more specifically to hoisting apparatus employed? for raising or loweringwellcasing and drill pipe, also-for carryingI the hydraulic swivel during drilling operations.

Two-types of apparatus areV employed for the above purpose, via. the well known spring casing hooks and combined link and elevator constructions. The latter devices are attached to the hook for hoisting the drill pipe and casing but they are not adapted to carry the usual hydraulic swivels or be employed to raise other objects.

The obj ect of this invention is to provide a hoisting device of the character described having a hook adapted to carry a hydraulic swivel and an elevator carried by links adapted to handle well casing or drill pipe.

Another object is to provide a hoisting device for oil wells including a hook and an elevator carried by links in which the resilient means forming apart thereof will act only when the elevator is employed to raise and lower drill pipe or casing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved hoisting device (parts being broken away and shown in section), the device being shown connected to a usual traveling block and in operative position for handling drill pipe or casing;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hoisting device taken in the direction indicated by arrow 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the hoisting device employed to carry a hydraulic swivel.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, designates a casing elevator of conventional design provided with a gate 11 adapted to be opened for the reception of a joint of casing or drill pipe 12, the coupling 14 of which engages the upper face 15 of the elevator when positioned therein as shown in Fig. 1.

Elevator 10 is connected by links 16 to a 1930; Serial N'o. 434,437.

block 18, there being an eye or loop l forniedf in the lower end of eachof'said links which engage a recess 21 formed in the end portions 23 of the elevator, the upper endv of each link having an opening 24 formed therein through which extends oppositely disposed. trunnions 25 projecting from the block, theouter ends of the trunnions having heads'or removable collars 26 formed thereon to prevent accidentalV disengagementV of the links from the block.

Block 18 is slidably mounted on the shank. 28 of a casing hook 30, the shank also eX- tendingthrough an: opening 31 formed: in a block 32 provided' with trunnions, 33l pro,-I jecting through openings formed in the lower free ends of a bail 34 which. is removably. connected-tol the cl'evis 35 of a standard' traveling block 36.

Mountedv on topof the block 32 is an antifriction bearing generally designated at 38y which consists` of upper and lower bearing' plates 40` and 41 respectively between which are positioned rollers or. balls 42, the bearing plates having centrally disposed openings formed therein through whichv extends the shank 28, the upper endl of which isthreaded to receive a cap 44: which rests on the upper bearingA plate and serves to holdk the. shank in engagement with the bearing.

An expansion coil spring 46 enciroles the shank andy ismountedin a. housing or sleevee 47the lower end of which engages a collar 48 secured tothe shank preferably by weld-` ing. The upper end of the spring engages the block andfis of suiiicient strength to sustain the weight of a section ofcasingor'drill pipe and servesto prevent damage to the threads thereon when connecting or disconnecting joints` of casing or drillpipe.

It willbe noted. that when the device is employed toA hoist casing; or drill pipe, heavy loads may be suspended as` the load willbe.l equally distributedv between the links, thus eliminating any. danger` of breakage as occasionally occurs due to hook failures.

As previously stated the block18 is slidably mountedx on' the'shankand is held'` against ro:- tation thereon by a feather 50. restingin a seat-51 formed-1insaidshank'and projects into a groove 52 formed in the block in order that the links cannot be moved to a position which would obstruct passage of objects placed on the hook, for example, the bail 5e of a hydraulic swivel designated at 56 in Fig. 3.

From the construction it will be seen that by connecting an elevator to the links the device may be used to raise and lower drill pipeV or casing and that the hook may be employed to carry a hydraulic swivel during drilling operations or for other purposes as required, it being understood that it is not necessary to disconnect the elevator from the links while using the hook as the pivotal connection of the links permit the elevator to be swung to one side to accommodate the hydraulic swivel or other device placed on said hook.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising a hook, a cylindrical shank projecting from said hook, a block slidably mounted on said shank, an expansible coil spring enciru cling said shank below said block and engaging an abutment on said shank, links pivotally connected to said block adapted to be connected to a casing elevator, a second block rotatably mounted on said shank above said first block, an antifriction bearing mounted on said second block, a cap secured to the upper end of said shank and engaging said antifriction bearing', and a bail pivotally connected to said second block for attachment to a traveling block.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hook, a shank projecting from said hook, a block slidably mounted on said shank, means engaging said shank and block for holding said block against rotation on said shank, oppositely disposed trunnions projecting from said block, a link connected to each of said trunnions having an eye formed in the lower ends thereof adapted to be connected to a casing elevator, a second block rotatably mounted on said shank, means for connecting said second block to a traveling block, a bearing engaging the surface of saidV second block, a supporting member secured to the upper end of said shank and engaging said bearing, an expansible spring means for yieldably supporting` said first block.

3. In a device of the character described, a cylindrical shank, a block slidably mounted on said shank, a sleeve mounted on said shank and secured thereto against sliding movement, and -eXpansible coil spring mounted in said sleeve and yieldably supporting said block, a second block rotatably mounted on said shank, means for connecting said second block to a traveling block, and links pivotally connected to said first block the lower ends thereof adapted to be connected to a casing elevator.

4. In a device of the character described, a

cylindrical shank having an abutment, a block slidably mounted on said shank, a spring mounted on said shank between the abutment on the shank and the block, a sleeve mounted on the shank between the abutment and the block to limit the spring compression, a second block rotatably mounted on said shank, means for connecting said second block to a traveling block, and links pivotally connected to said first block.

' 5. In a device of the character described, a cylindrical shank provided with an abutment, a block slidably mounted on said shank, a spring mounted on said shank between the abutment on the shank and the block, means formed on the shank between the abutment and the block to limit the spring compression, a second block rotatably mounted on said shank, means for connecting said second block to a traveling block, and links pivotally connected to said first block.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

THOMAS A. CREIGHTON. 

